Bag sealing machine



R. J. GAUBERT BAG SEALING MACHINE Jam, 27, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1949 O /29 I27 I25 ATTORNEYS R J. GAUBERT 2,626,495

Jan. 27, 1953 BAG SEALING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April. 25, 1949 INVENTOR. Panel Gauber-f z44vyg Jan. 27, 11953 R. J. GAUBERT 2,626,495

BAG SEALING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1949 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTO Pena J. Gal/barf Jan. 27 1953 R. J. GAUBERT 2,626,495

BAG SEALING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1949 12 Sheets$heet 4 '//9 /Z/ IZZ I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNE Y5 1953 R J. GAUBERT 2,626,495

BAG SEALING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1949 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. Rene J GJUbE/f iggzw ATTORNEYS Jan. 27, 1953 R. .1. GAUBERT BAG SEALING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 25, 1949 INVENTOR [Fe/"2e J 6641b er/ iw l hT Q Q Jan. 27, 1953 v u -r 2,626,495

BAG SEALING. MACHINE Filed April 25, 1949 12 Sheets-Sheet '7 FIE .1.E FIE-JED- EFIE EEM INVENTOR. /a $6? .1 Gauerf A 7' TOPNE Y5 Jan. 27, 1953 R. J. GAUBERT 2,

BAG SEALING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1949 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. Rene J fiaubcr/ A 7' TORNEYS Jam. 27, 11953 R J. GAUBERT 2,626,495

BAG SEALING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1949 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIEi E7 FIIE EE mvewrorz. Per/e J Gauber/ ATTORNEYS Jam. 27, 1953 R. J. GAUBERT 2,526,495

BAG SEALING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1949 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 F IIE E5 INVENTOR Pena J fiauberf HTTORNE Y5 Jan. 27, 1953 R. J. GAUBERT 2,626,495

BAG SEALING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1949 1.2 Sheets-Sheet 11 FllEi EEJ INVENTOQ Fens Gan/be, "2

ATTORNEYS Jan. 27, 11953 R. J. GAUBERT 2,626,495

BAG SEALING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1949 12 Sheets-Shet 12 ATTORNEY$ Patented Jan. 27, 1953' BAG SEALING MACHINE Rene J. Gaubert, Oakland, Calif., asslgnor to Simplex Packaging Machinery, Inc., a corporation oi California Application April 25, 1949, Serial No. 89,445

7 Claims. (Cl. 53149) This invention relates generally tdmachines for automatically closing and sealing bags after a bag filling operation. It is particularly applicable to the sealing of bags made of material like moistureproof cellophane or Pliofllm, which can be best sealed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine of the above character which will carry out its functions automatically, and which in particular is suitable for use with an automatic filling machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine of the above character which is capable of being adjusted to operate upon bags of various sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which will afiord a relatively tight closure and seal for the upper end of the bag, thereby avoiding undue looseness of the contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a seal for a filled bag which would not leave objectionable tabs. Additional objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying draw- Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating a machine incorporating the present invention. I

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional detail on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 1. Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of the upper portion of the machine, as viewed from the right in Figure 1.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail showing the upper right-hand portion of the machine as viewed in Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the parts as illustrated in Figure 10.

Figures 12, 12a. 13, 14, 14a, 15 to 20 inclusive are schematic views illustrating various phases in the operation of the machine, and serving to facilitate description of a complete closing and heat sealing cycle.

Figures 21 and 22 are side eh rational and top plan views respectively or a closed and sealed bag after being operated upon by the present machine.

able ior application of a crimp seal, and where the bag is of the gusset type.

Figure 27 is an end view of the machine as illustrated in Figure 26.

Figure 28 is a view similar to Figure 23, but

showing another embodiment of the invention.

suitable for application of a crimp vseal to a fiat plain type of bag.

Figure 29 is an end view of the machine as illustrated in Figure 28.

Figures 30 to 34 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating operation of that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 23 to 25 inclusive.

Figures 35 to 38 inclusive are diagrammatic views serving to illustrate operation of that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 26 and 27.

Figures 39 and 40 are diagrammatic views serving to illustrate the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 28 and 29.

The present machine is suitable for use with the automatic bag making and filling machine illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 55,395, filed October 19, I948. The machine 7 of said application includes a bag making unit which forms bags of a web of moistureproof cellophane, Pliofilm, or like material which can be sealed by application of heat. The bags as successively formed by the bag making unit are delivered to conveying means which serves to intermittently advance the bags step by step to a bag filling unit, where the bags are filled with a measured or weighed amount of a product. From the bag filling unit the filled bags are then pr 3 gressivelymoved to the automatic sealing machine described herein. Between the bag filling and sealing stations, there may be one or more additional stations, such as a shaking station, etc. v

The present sealing machine performs folding operations upon the end portion of the bag which extends above the product, after which the folded parts are heat sealed together. embodiment of the invention the sealing operation is carried out in such a manner that there is no undue looseness of the contents of the bag after the sealing operation, and no objectionable Pr jecting tab remains.-

In general the machine consists of a frame It (Figure 1) which may be adapted for attachment to the frame Ila. (illustrated in dot-dash lines in Figure l) of the bag filling machineof the above mentioned copending application, through connecting parts hereinafter mentioned. Additional parts of the bag filling machine illustrated in Figure 1 include the forward and rear horizontal bars ii and it which form guides between which the bags progress, together with the bars II which form a support for the bags. Sets of conveying fingers it are carried by the operating units I6. The upper and lower ends of the units l 6 are carried by the horizontal guide rails I1 and i8, whereby each unit is together with the fingers It can be oscillated horizontally. A driven shaft it connects with all of the units It, and when in operation shaft is is oscillated and reciprocated by cam means to effect cyclic advancement and retraction of the fingers it, with synchronizedreciprocation between conveying stations. Bar I! together with attaching plate ll serves to secure frame Hi to the frame Illa of the bag filling machine.

As explained in the aforementioned copending application, the various sets of conveying fingers II are positioned at predetermined intervals apart, and they perform the function of advancing the bag'sstep by step. Briefly atone point in the cycle of operation of the conveying means, all of the sets of fingers it are retracted as illustrated in Figure 1. As the conveying cycle proceeds, all of the fingers are advanced by virtue of gear and rack means which is actuated in conjunction with rotation of shaft ll. When the fingers are fully advanced into bag engaging positions, all of the vunits II are moved longitudinally of the guide rails i1 and ll, whereby the projected fingers ll move the bags a predetermined distance. Units ll then remain stationary for an interval during which shaft it rotates in an opposite direction to retract all of the fingers i4. After such retraction the units ii are returned to their initial positions together with the fingers II. It will be evident that this cycle of operation provides for successive positions of rest for performing various operations upon the bags. One such position of rest occurs when a filled bag is moved into-the bag sealing station, where it is operated upon by the present machine.

The upper forward end of the machine (Figure 1) is provided with a vertically movable head II serving to carry certain of the working parts.

Member 22 forms a stationary guideway for head II, and is carried by the vertically adjustable frame portion II of the machine. As drive means for reciprocating the head II, I provide a shaft "which is operativelyvconnected by miter gears 24 with the vertical shaft 26. As will be presently explained the shaft 28 is oscillated by means in- In a preferred eluding a suitable cam. A crank arm 21 is fixed to the forward end of shaft It, and'carries a roller 2| (Figure 8) which is accommodated within the slot II. This slot is formed in a block Ii which is attached to the rear side of the head II.

Additional working parts of the machine are carried by the horizontal bar II, which is likewise reciprocated. Bar II is suitably guided in the frame portion it of the machine, and is attached to operating means to effect its cyclic reciprocation. The operating means in this sense includes the bar 88 (Figures 2 and 7) which can be T-shaped in cross-section and which is mounted upon one side of the bar ll. Bar 38 forms an adjustable mounting for member 81 (Figures 2, 7 and 11). .Member I is pivotally attached to the link 88, which in turn has its rear end connected to an arm 3!. Arm 3! is mounted upon the upper end of the vertical drive shaft II, the lower end of which is associated with operating means to be presently described.

Additional operating parts of the machine are carried by another reciprocating bar I! (Figure 10) This bar is likewise slidably carried by the frame of the machine for reciprocation in a horizontal direction, and is attached to suitable operating means. Thus a bar 43 (Figures 2 and 7) which is also T-shaped is carried by one side of the bar 42, and serves to adjustably mount the member 44. A link 46 has one end pivotally attached to member 44, and its other end pivotaliy connected to the arm 41. This arm is carried by the upper end of drive shaft 48, the lower end of which is connected with drive means to be presently described. The pivotal connections between links 38 and 4t and crank arms II and 41 are adjustable, thereby enabling adjustmentsof the strokes of bars II and I2.

Shafts 26, Ii and 4| are arranged to extend parallel down the backside of the machine (Figure 2). Each of these shafts is driven by separate gear racks and cams. The main shaft ll of the bag making and filling machine is preferably utilized to drive the various parts of the present sealing machine, particularly because this makes possible synchronization of the sealing machine with the bag making and filling functions. As shown in Figures 3, i and 5 the shaft ll may be an extension of the main shaft of the bag making and filling machine. which turns continuously, and it is shown provided with three cams If, n and II. Cam I! is provided with a cam groove ll (Figure 5) within which the cam roller l'l operates. Roller I! is carried by member 88, which is guided for horizontal movement and is attached to the gear rack It.

The lower end of shaft ll is splined to a gear (notshown), which in turn is engaged by the teeth 'of rack ll. Cam I! (Figure 4) is similarly provided with the cam groove II which accommodates the cam roller 02. This roller is carried by the horizontally movable member N, which in turn is attached to the gear rack N. The lower end of shaft 28 is splined in a pinion (not shown), which engages the teeth of gear rack I4.

Cam I has a contoured outer periphery 68, which engages the cam rollers 81. These rollers are carried by the horizontally movable and guided member II, which in turn is attached to the gear rack 00 (Figure 3). The lower end of shaft 0 (Figure 3) is similarly splined at its lower end to a gear (not shown), which engages theteethofrack ll.

With the motion applying mechanism described above, it is evident that for one revolution of shaft II, the various shafts Ii, It and 0 are in Figures 9 and 10, these fingers include the two sets of members 'I3and I4 which reciprocate vertically, and the members 16 which reciprocate vertically and also move horizontally. As will be presently explained, the number'and arrangement of these fingers can be varied in different instances, depending upon the type of bag encountered, the type of material in the bag, and the manner in which one may desire to apply the closure and seal. The adjustable mounting means for the fingers I3 and I4 includes the spaced horizontal bars 11, which are attached to bracket 18. This bracket is carried in front of the machine and is attached to the movable head part 2|. Two sets of blocks I9, 0| are adjustably carried by the bars l1, and form a rigid attachment for the upper ends. of the fingers I3 and I4.

The movable fingers 16' are carried by the horizontal mounting bar 82 (Figure 9), which is likewise attached to the bracket I8 (Figure 10). Thus the upper ends of fingers 16 have pivotal connections 83 with blocks 84. These blocks are adjustably and removably carried by the bar 82. The fingers I6 are-operated by rocker arms 86 which are likewise pivotally mounted upon the blocks 84. One end of each rocker arm 86 .has a pin and slot connection 81, with an arm 88 formed on the associated fingers IS. The other end of each rocker arm 06 is provided with a projecting pin 89, which is adapted to be operated by means to be presently described. It will be evident that when the pins 89 are moved upwardly relative to the bar 82, the lower ends of the fingers 16 are swung inwardly from the positions illustrated in Figure 9. For their innermost limiting positions the lower ends of these fingers may be overlapping.

Located generally in front of the machine there is a depending rod 9|, which is adjustably carried by the bracket 90. The abutment bars 92 and 93 are adjustably mounted upon rod 9I, and one such bar (Figure 10) is arranged to engage the pins 89 when the member 2| and the parts carried by the same are moved upwardly. Arresting upward movement of the pins 89 in this manner while the bracket I8 continues to move upwardly serves to swing the fingers I3 outwardly to the position shown in Figure 9, as previously described. Suitable means such as friction washers serve to normally retain the fingers 16 against pivotal movement. When bracket I8 moves downwardly, pins 09 engage bar 93 to thereby swing the fingers I6 inwardly.

As illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 the movable fingers I6 are arranged to move between the spaced fingers I3, I4. It may be explained at this point that in normal operation the fingers I3, I4 are so mounted with respect to the size of the bag being handled, that when lowered they enter the upper end of the bag, while the fingers I6 move inwardly upon the side walls of the bag, from an outer position. Fingers 16 perform a general folding operation upon the material of the bag, while fingers 13, I4 hold the material of the bag while this folding operation proceeds.

The operating parts carried by the bar 33 include the pressure plate 96 (Figure 10). This plate is attached to the lower ends of rods 91. which in turn are slidably retained with the end 6 I portions 98 of the arm 99. Compression springs Illl urge the plate downwardly, and permit yielding upward movement. Arm 99 is secured to the pivotal shaft I02, which in turn is carried by a bracket I03. Arm 09 1s normally urged in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 10, by means of a spring pressed pin orplunger I04, which engages 8. lug I06 extending from the arm 99. A cam bar I05 is also slidably, mounted in the bracket I03, immediately below the bar 33. A cam surface I01 in the lower edge of bar I05 normally engages a pin I08 which is slidably carried by bracket I03. The lower end of pin I 00 engages a set screw I09, which is carried by arm 99. Compression spring III normally urges the bar I05 to its left hand limiting position. However when bar 33 move to the left as viewed in Figure 10, the left hand end of the cam bar. I06 is brought into engagement with the adjustable abutment screw II2, thereby causing relative movement of the cam bar I05 to effect a counterclockwise turning of the arm 99, to bring the plate 96 into a substantially horizontal position. The parts carried by the reciprocating bar 42 include the electrically heated pressing and sealing member IIB. This memberis carried by the lower ends of rods I II, which in turn are slidably carried by the arm I I8. Compression springs I I9 yieldably urge the member I I6 downwardly. Arm H8 is carried by shaft I2I which is supported by the bracket I20 on bar 42, and which carries the pinion I22. This pinion engages a second pinion I23 which is carried by another shaft I24, whereby upon counterclockwise rotation of shaft I24 (Figure 10) the arm H8 is swung in a clockwise direction to lower the sealing member II6. An arm I26 is secured to shaft I24, and is disposed between two adjustable bolts I21, I28 which are adjustably accommodated by the slot I29 in plate I3l. This plate in turn is attached to a stationary frame part of the machine. A tension spring I32 has its one end anchored to a fixed part of the machine, and its other end attached to the arm I33, which is also secured to the shaft I24. Thus the spring urges the shaft I24 to rotate in a clockwise direction, whereby the sealing member H6 normally remains in its raised position. When bar 42 moves forwardly in its reciprocating cycle, arm I26 is brought into engagement with the screw I28 to cause lever I26 to be rocked in a clockwise direction, thus swinging arm H9 in a clockwise direction to lower the sealing member II6 against the top of the bag.

Figures 12 to 20 inclusive of the drawing illustrate diagrammatically the various operations in folding the upper end of the bag, and in effecting a heat seal. Thus as illustrated in Figure 12 the bag I is shown in position for a folding and heat sealing operation with its upper end portion Ia extending a substantial distance above the level 2 of the bag contents. The contents may for example be food products such as dried beans and the like, or pieces of confection.

To commence a folding and sealing cycle the head of the machine starts downwardly, carrying with it the fingers I3, I4 and I6. Immediately prior to the descent of these fingers they occupy substantially the positions illustrated in Figures 12 and 1241. As the fingers move downwardly (Figure 13) the fingers I3, I4 commence to enter the upper end of the bag, and the fingers I5 swing inwardly. Shortly after the fingers I3, 14 complete their descent into the bag, the lower ends 51? fingers 16 swing inwardly to substantially the position illustrated in Figures 14, 14a and 15,

to form in effect a pleat in the upper end of the bag. As illustrated in Figure 16 the presser plate 66 now moves inwardly over the upper part of the bag and as it progresses over the bag it folds the projecting upper portion substantially as shown in Figure 17. As the presser plate completes its movement over the upper end of the bag, it moves downwardly against the contents of the bag substantially as shown in Figure 18. During the movement illustrated in Figure 17 the fingers 13, '14 and 16 begin their upward movement as indicated and as this movement proceeds the fingers 16 are swung outwardly.

For the position of the parts illustrated in Figure 17, all of the fingers have completed their retraction from the bag. As the presser plate is being moved to the position shown in Figure 18,,

the heater II6 commences to move overihe top of the bag as indicated in Figures 17 and 18. This serves to fold over the projecting portion of the bag preparatory to the heat sealing operation. When the heater has reached substantially the position shown in Figure 19, the presser plate 96 is being retracted as indicated in this figure. As the presser plate retracts from the upper end of the bag, the heater II6 is pressed down upon the top of the bag (Figure 20) and performs the heat sealing operation. Instead of this sequence the plate 96 can be adjusted to retract shortly after heater II6 has pressed down upon the plate, thereby causing the heater to first seal that part of the bag overlying the plate, and then establish a seal against the more irregular contents of the bag.

The completely sealed bag is illustrated in Figures 21 and 22. In this instance the bag made by the bag making unit was of the gusset type, and was filled with dried beans. Note that the upper end portion Ia of the bag has been doubled over and heat sealed to form the upper end of the bag. The closure is a relatively tight one in that there is no undue looseness of the contents of the bag. There are no objectionable projecting tabs, and in general the closure affords sufficient strength to withstand ordinary packaging, handling and marketing.

The machine described above makes use of two sets 13, 14 of stationary fingers for aiding in the folding operation. It has been found that the machine will work satisfactorily if one of these sets of fingers, particularly set 14, is omitted. Without the fingers 14 the machine operates in a manner quite similar to that described with reference to Figures 12 to 20 inclusive, except that on the forward side of the movable fingers 16 (see Figure 14) there is a more general gathering of the bag material.

Figures 23 to 25 inclusive illustrate a modification of the machine in which a roller is utilized to draw the material more tightly about the contents of the bag, and in which the heater is operated in a different manner. The presser plate 96 in this instance is also mounted in different manner, although its function is similar to the first described embodiment.

Referring particularly to Figures 23 and 24, the reciprocating horizontal bar 33 serves to mount the bracket I30, which in turn forms a journal for the horizontal pivotal shaft I34. An arm I36 has lugs I36 which are attached to the shaft I34. The side extremities of arm I25 carry bosses within which the pins I31 are slidably retained. The lower ends of these pins are attached to the presser plate 96. Compression springs III urge the plate 66 downwardly with respect to the arm III. The forward intermediate portion of arm III is provided with a lug III, which engages the spring P essed plunger I4I. Plunger I4I retains the arm I86 in the elevated or raised position shown in Figure 23. An arm I42 is attached to shaft I34, and carries the cam roller I43. Roller I42 is adapted to engage the lower cam surface of cam block I44, which in turn is adjustably carried by the stationary bar I46.

The heater I41 (Figures 23, 24) is carried by the pins I46, which in turn are slidably retained by the arm I49. This arm is mounted upon a horizontal shaft I5I, which in turn is carried by the support mounting or bracket I62. The pinion I66 carried by shaft I6I engages a inion I61 which is attached to the operating arm I66. The shaft for pinion III carries a pin or arm I63, which in turn is attached to the tension spring I6I. Thus the operating arm I66 is normally urged toward its upright position shown in Figure 23, and when this arm is swung in a counterclockwise direction, the heater I41 is swung downwardly. An adjustable abutment pin I62 is mounted upon a stationary frame part of the machine, and this pin is engaged by arm I56 when bar 42 moves forwardly, thus causing a counterclockwise swinging movement of the arm I58, for the final forward movement of the bar 42, and the heater I41.

Mounted slightly in advance of the heater I41, there is a presser roller I. This roller is journaled upon the rod I6I, and this rod has its ends attached to the arms I66, I63. The rear extremities of these arms are journaled to the extended end portions of the shaft I5I. Arm I66 has a rear extension I10, which serves to engage the adjustable stop IN. The forward end of arm I69 is shown provided with an upwardly and forwardly extending ringer I12, to make certain that the roller I66 always passes over the presser plate 36.

In the machine of Figures 23 and 24, it is presumed that two sets 12, 14 of stationary fingers are employed, and one set of movable fingers 16. In place of utilizing linear edges for the fingers 13, 14 it is desirable to utilize a concave contouring as indicated at I16 in Figure 25. As will be presently explained this concave contouring tends to cause a better creasing action at the time the fingers are retracted from the bag.

Figures 30 to 34 inclusive serve to illustrate the various operations involved during folding and heat sealing a bag by the use of the machine described with reference to Figures 23 to 25 inclusive. The fingers 13, 14 and 16 enter the bag and Operate upon the upper end of the bag in the same manner as the first described embodiment. Presser plate 86 moves over the upper part of the bag in the same manner as previously described, and about the time this presser plate reaches its final position (Figure 32) the roller I66 moves forwardly upon the bag. The roller rides over the top of the contents of the bag, and its action tends to tighten the bag about the contents, and at the same time forms a desired fold-over operation. Figure 33 illustrates the position of the roller I66 in which it overrides the presser plate 96. About that time the presser plate retracts to its initial position, and eventually the roller reaches its extreme position shown in Figure 34. By that time the heater has been swung down against the top of the bag for the heat sealing operation.

Retraction of the fingers from the upper portion of the bag is illustrated in Figure 32.

During this retraction there is a creasing op-v type of bag. In this instance a pair of elec trically heated bar-like heaters I15, I11 are employed. Heater I15 is carried by the bracket I18, which is mounted upon the reciprocating bar 42. Pins I19 are slidably carried by the bracket I18, and carry the bar-like heater I15 at their forward ends. Compression springs I8I yieldably urge the heater I15 forwardly.

Heater I11 is carried by bracket I82, which in turn is mounted upon the reciprocative bar 33. Pins I83 are slidable within the bracket I82, and are attached to the heater I11 at their forward ends. Compression springs 84 urge the heater I11 rearwardly.

Extending below the heater I15 there is a plate I86, which is carried by the bracket I18. Below the heater I11 there is a pusher bar I81, which is carried by the slidably mounted pins I88. Compression springs I89 urge the bar I81 forwardly, and this bar is preferably provided with a facing I9I of soft compressible material like sponge rubber.

The modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 26 and 2'7 operates in the manner illustrated in Figures 35 to 37 inclusive. Thus it is assumed that thebag is of the pleated or gusset type, and that it has been filled in such a manner as to permit a so-called fiat crimp seal. When the filled bag 3 arrives at the sealing station it appears substantially as shown in Figure 35. The fingers 13, 14 and 16 move down upon the top 3a of the bag, with the fingers 16 swinging inwardly after the fingers 13 and 14 have entered the bag. After these fingers have performed their folding operation, they commence to move -upwardly out of the bag and at the same time the heaters I15, I11 move inwardly, as shown in Figure 36. When heaters I15, I11 move inwardly for the heat sealing operation, plate I86 and the bar I81 engage the sides of the bag below the heaters for the purpose of collapsing this portion of the bag to expel air. Finally the heaters I15, I11 reach the heat sealing position shown in Figure 37, in which they directly press upon opposite sides of the extended fiat end 3a of the bag. This serves to form a crimped effect seal 4, as shown in Figure 8. The crimping effect as shown by this seal can be enhanced by providing the faces of the heaters with suitable grooves. After the heat sealing operation indicated in Figure 37, the heaters I15, I11 immediately retract and the bag is released for the next cycle of operation.

In some instances it is desirable to use a plain or fiat bag, which is not provided with side pleats or gussets. Figures 28 and 29 show a suitable modification of the machine for this purpose. The stationary sets of fingers 13, 14 have been removed. Instead of the pins 89 being mounted upon the fulcrumed arms 86, similar pins I 98 are mounted upon the opposite ends of the arms 86. Thus when the pins I96 engage the bar- 92, the fingers 16 are swung in- 10 which will produce a crimp seal with a gusset 10 wardly, and when they engage the lower bar 93, the fingers 16 are swung outwardly Operation of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 28 and 29 can be understood by reference to Figures 39 and 40. Figure 39 illustrates the relationship of the bag ,with the fingers 16, immediately prior to lowering of the fingers into the bag. This is likewise illustrated in solid lines in Figure 40. Fingers 16 are lowered into the upper open end of the bag, and then they are swung outwardly to the positions illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 40, to spread the upper end of the bag. About the time the upper end of the bag is spread in this fashion, the heaters I15, I11 move inwardly upon opposite sides of the fiattened end of the bag, and immediately prior to engagement of these fingers with the collapsed end of the bag, the fingers 16 are retracted. Thereafter the heaters engage the collapsed end of the bag for the heat sealing operation. In this embodiment the plate I86, and also the bar I81, aid in collapsing the end of the bag and in expelling the air from the same prior to the heat sealing operation.

I claim:

1. In a bag closing and sealing machine, means for supporting a filled bag, means including fingers for positioning and retaining the upper projecting end portion of the bag, a heater, means for translating the heater into operative engagement with the projecting end portion of the bag to form a heat seal, and presser means cooperating with the heater to efiect folding of the projecting end portion of the bag and for pressing down upon the contents of the bag prior to a heat sealing operation and means for activating the presser means in cyclic relation to movements of the heater to cause the presser means to retract as the heater is applied.

2. In a bag closing and sealing machine, means for supporting a filled bag for a closing and sealing operation, means including fingers for positioning and retaining the upper projecting end portion of the bag, said fingers including one pair movable vertically into the interior of the bag and a second pair movable from the exterior of the bag to gather the upper end portion of the bag about said first named fingers, a heater, a presser plate, means for cyclically translating the presser plate over the upper end of the bag and downwardly into pressing engagement with the contents of the bag, and means for cyclically translating the heater into a position overlying the bag and then downwardly against the upper end of the bag to perform a heat sealing operation, the means for cyclically translating the presser plate serving to retract the presser plate as the heater is applied.

3. In a bag closing and sealing machine, means for supporting a filled bag for a closing and sealing operation, means including fingers for positioning and retaining the upper projecting end portion of the bag, a heater, 9. presser plate, a presser roller, means for cyclically translating the presser plate over the upper end of the bag and downwardly into pressing engagement with the contents of the bag, means for cyclically translating the roller across the upper end of the bag to fold the projecting end of the bag over the presser plate, and means for cyclically translating the heater into a position overlying the bag and then downwardly against the upper 11 folded end of the bag to perform a heat sealing operation.

4. In a bag closing and sealing machine, means for supporting a filled bag for a closing and sealing operation, means for positioning and retaining the upper projecting end portion of the bag, a heater, a presser plate, a presser roller, means for cyclically translating the presser plate over the upper end of the bag and into engagement with the contents of thebag, means for cyclically translating the roller across the upper end of the bag to fold the projecting end of the bag over the presser plate, means-serving to carry the roller to permit limited vertical movement of the same, thereby enabling the roller to roll over the contents of the bag during its cyclic movement, and means for cyclically translating the heater into a position overlying the bag and then downwardly against the upper folded end of the bag to perform a heat sealing operation.

5. In a bag closing and sealing machine, means for supporting a filled bag for a closing and sealing operation, means for positioning and generally flattening the upper projecting end portion of the bag, a heater, a presser member, means for cyclically translating the presser member over the upper end of the bag and downwardly into pressing engagement with the contents of the bag, and means for cyclically translating the heater into a position overlying the bag and then downwardly against the upper end of the bag to perform a heat sealing operation, said means for cyclically translating the presser member serving to retract the same as the heater is applied.

6. In a bag closing and sealing machine, means for supporting a filled bag for a closing and sealing operation, means for positioning and retaining the upper projecting end portion of the bag, a heater, a presser plate, another presser member, means for cyclically translating the presser plate over the upper end of the bag and downwardly into pressing engagement with the contents of the bag, means for cyclically translating the other presser member across the upper end of the bag while in downwardly pressing engagement with the same to fold the projecting end of the bag over the presser plate, and means for cyclically translating the heater into a position overlying the bag and then downwardly against the upper folded end of the bag to perform a heat sealing operation, the means for translating the presser plate and the means for translating the presser member serving to retract the plate as said member is translated across the bag and to complete movement of the member across the bag as said heater is applied.

7. A machine as in claim 6 in which said presser member is a roller adapted to roll acros the upper end of the bag.

RENE J. GAUBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,398,840 Conley Nov. 29, 1921 1,851,676 Litchfield Mar. 29, 1932 1,979,496 Schllbach Nov. 6, 1934 1,984,850 Van Buren Dec. 18, 1934 2,243,805 Knapp May 27, 1941 2,327,267 Howard Aug. 17, 1943 

